Just the facts, please

Just the facts, please

The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore

And here they go again. In Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat, in the national press and in party channels, Singapore is being flayed anew for being un-neighborly, un-cooperative, insensitive, selfish. Land reclamation taking place well inside Singapore waters, near the Johor side, is the object of their ire this time. The matter has claimed the attention of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who suggested last week that Malaysia would not cooperate with Singapore if the Republic did not reciprocate.

Presumably, this included reconsidering the reclamation work. This came after a visit by Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who had explained to his hosts that the work was in Singapore waters and met the standards of international law.

So far as can be determined from statements and asides reported, and the Singapore Foreign Ministry's only comment on the matter to date, the unhappiness being expressed by the Malaysians seems misplaced. An inference that may be drawn is that this latest broadside could be a proxy skirmish over the real issue -- water supply to Singapore. This matter has stalled over new rates which Malaysia seeks. Remarks attributed to Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar appear to hint at a linkage between water and the reclamation issue.

A primary one is that the Tekong work would degrade the shipping lane for traffic to Johor's Pasir Gudang port. Answer: The lane traverses deeper waters between Tekong and the Singapore mainland, while the reclamation is being done on the shallower part around the shores. Speed of currents and silting are monitored constantly by the Maritime and Port Authority to ensure the lane is not choked up. As for the work in Tuas, which the Malaysians worry could affect Tanjung Pelepas port, the fact is that the reclamation is positioned seven km away from the shipping route. That is a long way away.

Peripheral complaints concern water quality and how that might hit fisheries and the ecology of the Johor coastline. To that, Singapore notes that its Environment Ministry collaborates with Johor's Environment Department to take bi-monthly samples. This has been the practice since 1991, and current water quality is described as "unchanged". As for the boundary between the two nations "shifting" underwater, the assurance given is that this is a fixed position determined by co-ordinates, which cannot be physically changed by any development.

This is Singapore's case. Now, Malaysia should present its facts. A rush to judgment by either side should be avoided until Kuala Lumpur has spoken. Meantime, politicians and commentators would do well to lay off if they have nothing credible to say. Malaysian media, if they choose, can also remove a sting if they would report Singapore's responses as they are made. They owe it to their readers to do so.